Originally conceived and written by Clif Walker as a marimba solo with small ensemble accompaniment, Promise Music was later revised (2007) and expanded to seven, then nine equal parts. It was performed in its final form at the 2007 Percussive Arts Society International Convention by the Florida State University percussion ensemble as a winner of the “call for tapes” competition under the direction of Dr. John W. Parks IV. The work attempts to convey the mood of a promise. A strong, simple melody withstanding an undercurrent of activity, changes, modulations. Intentionally, it was written without the use of any drums/membranophones, leaving all the challenges of energy, aggressiveness, and excitement exclusively to keyboards and various metals (cymbals, gongs, and triangle). The struck crotale on timpani effect is in memory of, and was introduced to the composer by, the late Michael Hooley of Northeast Missouri State University.